Ehud Olmert Administration:
Speech to Knesset On Violence in
Lebanon and Gaza Strip

(July 17, 2006)

At the outset, I offer condolences,
on my behalf and on behalf of the government, the Knesset
and the entire nation, to the families of the victims – both
civilian and IDF. I also send best wishes for
recovery to the wounded, and a huge embrace for the
families of those kidnapped and the boys themselves.

Over the past few weeks, our enemies have challenged
the sovereignty of the State of Israel and the safety
of its residents – first in the southern sector,
then on the northern border, and deeper into the home
front.

Israel did not seek these confrontations. On
the contrary. We have done a lot to prevent them. We
returned to the borders of the State of Israel, recognized
by the entire international community. There
were those who misconstrued our desire for peace – for
us and our neighbors – as a sign of frailty. Our
enemies misinterpreted our willingness to exercise
restraint as a sign of weakness.

They were wrong!

Madam Speaker, Members of Knesset,

The State of Israel has no territorial conflict, neither
on our southern border nor on our northern one.

In these two areas, we are sitting on the recognized
international border – both vis-à-vis
the Palestinian Authority in the Gaza Strip, and in
Lebanon.

We have no intention of interfering in their internal
affairs. On the contrary, stability and tranquility
in Lebanon, free of the rule of foreign powers, and
in the Palestinian Authority, are in Israel's interest.

We yearn for the day when peace will prevail between
us, for the mutual benefit of our peoples from both
sides of our common border.

The campaign we are engaged in these days is against
the terror organizations operating from Lebanon and
Gaza. These organizations are nothing but "sub-contractors" operating
under the inspiration, permission, instigation and
financing of the terror-sponsoring and peace-rejecting
regimes, on the Axis of Evil which stretches from Tehran
to Damascus.

Lebanon has suffered heavily in the past, when it
allowed foreign powers to gamble on its fate.

Iran and Syria still continue to meddle, from afar,
in the affairs of Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority,
through Hizballah and the Hamas.

Even if last Wednesday's criminal attack against an
IDF patrol was carried out without the consent of the
Lebanese government and without the assistance of its
military, this does not absolve it of full responsibility
for the attack which emanated from its sovereign territory.
Just as the fact that the Chairman of the Palestinian
Authority opposes terrorism against Israel does not
relieve him and the Palestinian Authority of their
responsibility for the attack carried out from their
territory against our soldiers in Kerem Shalom. They
are both fully responsible for the safety of our soldiers
who were taken hostage.

Radical, terrorist and violent elements are sabotaging
the life of the entire region and placing its stability
at risk. The region in which we live is threatened
by these murderous terror groups.

It is a regional – as well as global – interest
to take control and terminate their activity.

We can all see how the majority of the international
community supports our battle against the terror organizations
and our efforts to remove this threat of the Middle
East.

We intend to do this. We will continue to operate
in full force until we achieve this. On the Palestinian
front, we will conduct a tireless battle until terror
ceases, Gilad Shalit is returned home safely and the
shooting of Qassam missiles stops.

And in Lebanon, we will insist on compliance with
the terms stipulated long ago by the international
community, as unequivocally expressed only yesterday
in the resolution of the 8 leading countries of the
world:
- The return of the hostages, Ehud (Udi) Goldwasser
and Eldad Regev;
- A complete cease fire;
- Deployment of the Lebanese army in all of Southern
Lebanon;
- Expulsion of Hizballah from the area, and fulfillment
of United Nations Resolution 1559.

We will not suspend our actions.

On both fronts we are exercising self-defense in the
most basic and essential sense. In both cases,
it is a matter whose importance and significance go
far beyond the size of the military units involved.

We are at a national moment of truth. Will we
consent to living under the threat of this Axis of
Evil or will we mobilize our inner strength and show
determination and equanimity?

Our answer is clear to every Israeli, and it echoes
today throughout the entire region.

We will search every compound, target every terrorist
who assists in attacking the citizens of Israel, and
destroy every terrorist infrastructure, everywhere. We
will persist until Hizballah and Hamas comply with
those basic and decent things required of them by every
civilized person. Israel will not agree to live
in the shadow of missiles or rockets against its residents.

Citizens of Israel,

There are moments in the life of a nation, when it
is compelled to look directly into the face of reality
and say: no more!

And I say to everyone: no more!
Israel will not be held hostage – not by terror
gangs or by a terrorist authority or by any sovereign
state.

In the life of a nation there are moments of transcendence,
of purification, when political and sectarian disputes
which separate us are replaced by a sense of mutual
responsibility. I highly value and appreciate
the way the Opposition has been conducting itself in
the Knesset these days. The human competition
and personal rivalries are dissolved and instead our
feeling of mutual responsibility arises, our sense
of partnership, and primarily, our eternal love for
our people and our land.

This is such a moment!

All of us – Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze
and Circassians – now stand as one person, as
one nation, subject together to the same hatred and
malice, and fighting against it in consensus and partnership. When
missiles are launched at our residents and cities,
our answer will be war with all the strength, determination,
valor, sacrifice and dedication which characterize
this nation.
There is nothing we want more than peace and good neighborly
relations – in the east, north and south. We
seek peace, we pursue peace and we yearn for peace. At
the same time, there is nothing we reject more than
an attempt to harm us and make us give up our right
to live here, in our land, in security and peace.

On behalf of the people of Israel, on behalf of all
the residents of the country, I came here today, Madam
Speaker, to announce to the world: we seek neither
war nor direct confrontation, but we will not be deterred
from them when the need arises. Only a nation
that can defend its freedom truly deserves it. We
are entitled to our freedom, and when necessary, we
know how to fight for it and defend it.

My fellow Members of Knesset,

The strength of the State of Israel relies on the
strength and capability of the IDF. This strength
is the main guarantee to preserving and defending our
lives on this land. The best economic and human
resources of Israeli society were invested in building
this strength.

I want to extend from here my heartfelt gratitude – and
that of the Government and the people of Israel – to
the IDF soldiers and commanders, the security services,
the Israel Police, the rescue forces, the firefighters
and the other security forces.

I wish to read from the "Prayer for the Welfare
of Soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces". Millions
of Jews – in Israel and the world – pray
for the safety and success of those who defend our
nation, from the Lebanese border to the desert, and
from the Great Sea unto the approach of the Arava,
on the land, in the air and on the sea.

“May the Almighty cause the enemies
who rise up against us to be struck down before them.

May the Holy One, blessed be He, preserve
and rescue our fighters from every trouble and distress
and from every plague and illness, and may He send
blessing and success in their every endeavor.

May He lead our enemies under our soldiers'
sway and may He grant them salvation and crown them
with victory”.

The strength of a nation is measured not only by its
military capabilities. The strength of a nation
is measured by its welfare and morality, its strong
and solid economy, its modern and developing market,
its export of technologies and products for the most
advanced world markets and its ground-breaking academic
research. In all these, each and every one of
us has good reason to be proud.

But above all, the strength of a nation is measured
in times of trial, when the home front becomes the
front, when the citizens of the country show admirable
fortitude, patience and stamina and allow it to operate
against its enemies.

I had the privilege of witnessing these inner strengths
in the years when I was Mayor of Jerusalem. For years,
our capital was subject to the most murderous terror
attacks. The resilience, patience and restraint
of the residents of Jerusalem and the entire citizens
of Israel are exemplary.

I recall a conversation with Rudy Giuliani, who was
Mayor of New York during the terror attacks of September
2001. I called to offer encouragement to him
and the residents of New York following the collapse
of the Twin Towers, and he replied: "Ehud, if
the New Yorkers can withstand it like the Jerusalemites
do, then we will defeat terrorism".

Madam Speaker,
Ladies and gentlemen Members of Knesset,
Citizens of Israel,

Even in these days, hundreds of thousands of Israelis
stand at the front line of fire, like soldiers in the
battlefield, fighting for our life and honor.

It is clear to us that the circumstances imposed upon
the residents compel us to address their special needs,
in all aspects. The government will lend immediate
assistance, everywhere.

The government of Israel, under my leadership, derives
strength from the stamina of the Israeli public. We
are a brave and determined nation. I am proud
today – perhaps more than ever before – to
be an Israeli citizen.

Thanks to you, our enemies come up against a united
nation, which fights together, shoulder to shoulder. We
do not surrender and we do not panic. We believe
in the justice of our cause, because there is no battle
more just or moral than ours – a battle for the
right to a peaceful and normal life, like any other
human being, any other nation and any other state.

We fight for the right of children like Omer Pisachov,
may his memory be blessed, a 7 year old from Nahariya,
who wanted to visit his grandmother Yehudit Itzkovich,
may her memory be blessed, and enjoy the Sabbath dinner
she prepared;

We fight for the right of citizens like Shmuel Ben-Shimon,
may his memory be blessed, a 41 year old from Yokne'am
who left every morning for work in the railway garage
in Haifa to support his wife Natalie and their small
children;

We fight for the right of citizens like Monica Lerer,
may her memory be blessed, a 50 year old from Nahariya,
to drink coffee on the terrace in the country to which
she immigrated from Argentina;

We fight for the right of girls like Ella Abukasis,
may her memory be blessed, a 13 year old from Sderot,
to play the flute and read books, as Ella enjoyed doing.

We fight for everything that everyone in the enlightened
world takes for granted and never imagined that they
would have to fight for – the right to a normal
life.

It is a difficult battle! It may become even more
difficult. It is a painful test, and we may have
to bear more suffering. Such a battle is never
easy. It is strewn with pain and suffering, sacrifice,
and casualties.

But, we have no intention of giving up our desire
to live a normal life. We will not apologize
for this desire, and we do not need anyone's approval
to defend ourselves.

Citizens of Israel,

This is a difficult time of trial for all of us.

The State of Israel has withstood much more complex
trials – and triumphed.

We have always known how to mobilize our inner strength,
equanimity, wisdom and patience, in order to overcome
our enemies.

Finally, I wish to speak on a more personal note to
the families of Shalit, Goldwasser and Regev, the families
of the soldiers who are held hostage by the Hamas and
Hizballah.

You, and mainly your children – our children – are
always on my mind.

Last Wednesday, only five days ago, at 10:00 am, Aviva
and Noam Shalit sat in my office. They, and I, want
Gilad home more than anything. While we were
discussing the situation, I – and Aviva and Noam – received
the painful news that Ehud (Udi) Goldwasser and Eldad
Regev had been kidnapped.

On their departure, Noam and Aviva left a picture
of Gilad, taken close to the date of his kidnapping.

Unfortunately, pictures of three boys now stand in
my room. Many times during the day I look in
their faces, into their eyes, and embrace them in my
heart. I do not forget them for one minute. They
were there on our behalf and for our sake. We
will do everything and make every effort to bring them
home. We will do this, but not in a pattern
that will encourage more kidnappings.

There is almost no one who can understand the place
you are in. Even when we do not talk directly,
I feel and hear what you want to say to me, and I embrace
you with love, understanding and agreement.

The place I am in compels me, ultimately, to make
fateful decisions, for life, and sometimes even for
death.

I have no strength other than that which you have
bestowed upon me.

I have no courage other than that which G-d, my faith
in the justice of our cause and my sense of supreme
responsibility, have instilled in me and have prepared
me for these fateful moments.

Madam Speaker,

I see before me the kidnapped boys, those standing
in the front line and in the line of fire, those brave
and determined ones who are fighting today and who
could – G-d forbid – be the target of tomorrow’s
kidnapping.

We will defend all of them, on behalf of all of them
we will fight, and with all of them before our eyes – the
civilians in the line of fire, the kidnapped fighters
and their families – we will continue, without
hesitating, without capitulating and without fretting,
until our goals are achieved.

I wish to conclude by reading an extract from Prophet
Jeremiah:

“Thus said Hashem: a voice is heard
on high, wailing, bitter weeping, Rachel weeps for
her children; she refuses to be consoled for her
children, for they are gone.

Thus said Hashem: restrain your voice from
weeping and your eyes from tears; for there is reward
for your accomplishment – the word of Hashem – and
they will return from the enemy’s land.